Gottheimer Responds to Protest Regarding Mixed Appropriation Bill … – TAPinto.net

GLEN ROCK - While 14 individuals representing various causes protested Congressman's Josh Gottheimer's(D-Wyckoff) vote for a defense funding bill late in the afternoon Aug. 8, his staffers were inside meeting with those concerned about veterans whobriefedthem on the benefits of the bill.

According to an Aug. 8 press release, "The bill contains key resources to support service members and veterans."

"I think CongressmanGottheimer'sopposition to some of the bill provisions, including the border wall funding, should be noted," Matt Fried, Gottheimer'sdistrict press secretary said.

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Gottheimervoted in favor of thedefense appropriations bill that recently passed the House of Representatives. The bill included appropriations for the border wall.

Protesters were specifically angered by the funding for the border wall President Donald Trump promoted during his campaign and continues to support.

With a mock wall in front of them, one protester who addressed the group said, "We got rid of Scott Garrett because he did not represent the needs of New Jersey. Mr. Gottheimershould be on notice we're concerned."

"Our bottom line, brothers and sisters," Analilia Mejia, a representative of the Working Families Party, said, "is actions in DC impact us here in New Jersey."

One of the organizers of the protest, Matt Smithfrom Food & Water Watch, a non-profit organization out of New Brunswick, said Gottheimer'svoting record during his short tenure as a congressman (since January 2017), "has not represented many of his constituents."

Smith was concerned about energy infrastructure and Gottheimer'ssupportof the Midnight Rules Relief Act,which expands the power Congress has to overturn regulations by allowing lawmakers to bundle together rules adopted in a presidents final year in office and overturn them at once.

Gottheimerwas one of four democrats who supported the bill which passed 238-184.

The New Jersey congressman defended his vote stating "unnecessary and out-of-date regulations have been able to pile up on the books, burdening businesses large and small, and passing hidden costs along to families."

Support of Veteran's issues

Gottheimer's Director of Veterans Affairs met with local veterans in the Glen Rock office on Aug. 8 where the group discussed Gottheimer's support for resources to improve military readiness and the Veterans Administration, provisions formental health and traumatic brain injury treatment to veterans, resources to fight opiates,pay raises to the nation's armed services, and plans to defeat ISIS and other terrorist organizations.

Further details of the legislation include:

More details on this bipartisan legislation's provisions are availableHERE.

No wall support

"While a number of Jersey priorities and national security programs are resourced in this funding measure, Gottheimer does not support every provision of the bill and voted to remove allocated resources for a wall along the nation's southern border, something he has said will not make our families or communities more safe while hitting taxpayers squarely in the pocketbook," the press release said.

Gottheimer said he supports "common sense" efforts to reform theimmigration system.

"He isproud to defend Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and cosponsor the Encourage New Legalized Immigrants to Start Training (ENLIST) Act, bipartisan legislation to help qualified undocumented immigrants who came to this country as children earn legal status through service in the U.S. Armed Forces," his representatives said. "He also stood with mayors and police chiefs by voting against H.R. 3003, which would punish state and local law enforcement for prioritizing protecting public safety."

In a direct statement, Gottheimersaid, "I am in Israel this week seeing first hand our nations' collaborative efforts to defeat terror, stand strong against Iran, and strengthen America's national security. I am grateful to these local veterans for serving our country and meeting with my team to discuss the vital provisions in the defense appropriations bill I recently voted for."

"Our government's top priority must always be the security of our country and communities and having the backs of those who risk their lives to keep our families safe," he said.

I thank Congressman Gottheimer for always standing by New Jersey veterans and making sure our service members have the resources they need abroad and the support they need when they return home,David Pearson, Assistant Director of Veteran Services, Catholic Family and Community Services, said in a statement.

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Gottheimer Responds to Protest Regarding Mixed Appropriation Bill ... - TAPinto.net